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Ana 1, Ana 2, Generation Gap, Don't Think So

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Real Estate Broker/Owner with Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty

Ana 1, Ana 2, Generation Gap, Don't Think So

For those of you who feel they may be aging themselves by reminiscing with us ..

The Lawrence Welk Show started in July,1955, the last show was in April, 1982


This past weekend we drove up from Sunset Beach, NC to Virginia Beach, VA to visit family. Mostly it's to visit my Mom, who will turn 87 on Dec. 20 but we have other family there also. Since my dad passed last year at the ripe old age of 91, she has been living with my older sister and her husband.

Gretchen and Denise doing a puzzle



God bless them, my mom can be difficult at times. She is having a hard time dealing with her physical limitations and loss of independence, as anyone would, but knows she is surrounded by loving family.


Part of that loving family is my sister's son and wife and 5 year old daughter that live across the street. Gretchen, our 5 year old great niece is, officially, the reigning princess of the family.


I say officially because our daughter "Princess" Tamzen, who had enjoyed an uninterrupted reign of 28 years as the only female grandchild or great grandchild on the Baker side of the family, has passed the tiara onto Gretchen.The Two Princesses


It was time, Gretchen & Tami bonded immediately, kindred souls, natural born performers, two peas in a pod, it was a natural transition.


You may think this is the generation gap mentioned in the title but it is not. The biggest gap in our family is between my mom, soon to be 87 and my great niece Gretchen, recently turned 5 and I was totally amazed by something that happened the other day during our visit. Gretchen works on Phonics



Karen was happily playing with Gretchen. They had fashioned a train from a cardboard box and were pulling our two pooches, Bonita & Bella, around the house announcing their imaginary destinations and arrivals.



Gretchen playing with Bonita and Bella

Suddenly I heard this very familiar music I hadn't heard in decades. It was the Champagne music theme of "The Lawrence Welk Show". For all you 50+ers I'm sure you were subjected to your parents watching this show every week. After all, most of us only had one TV and no video games.TV time was a family event. My sister has found reruns of the show on one of the myriad cable channels available to us all and diligently records them for my mom to watch at her leisure (all the time).


Upon hearing this music Gretchen immediately stopped what she was doing and ran to the TV. She is totally mesmerized by this show. She sat perfectly still next to her nana-the-great and watched the whole show. Although there were times when she would jump up and exclaim, "There's Bobby", and start dancing all over the great room. Yup, she even knows the names of all the Regulars on the show. I was mesmerized by the hairstyles and outfits the singers and dancers were wearing.


Taking a break with Pop Pop





My sister told me she watches it all the time, so take that, Sesame Street or whatever the hottest kids shows are nowadays. What's next? Perhaps "The Ed Sullivan Show".



For those of you who feel they may be aging themselves by reminiscing with us ..

The Lawrence Welk Show started in July, 1955 and the last show was in April, 1982 ...

Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Thank you for bringing us into your family for the day. What a precious story and just for the record... I too LOVED to watch the Lawrence Welk Show with my grandparents. 

Nov 06, 2012 10:42 PM
Susanna Haynie
CO-RE Group, LLC -Real estate sales and services - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realtor GRI CNE MCNE ePro MRP

I am not familiar with the Lawrence Welk show but i certainly see the appeal of older shows even for younger generations. They are just so different! So glad to hear that things are working out beautifully in your family!

Nov 06, 2012 10:44 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

What a sweet story Bubbeleh!  Mickey still loves the Lawrence Welk Show and if I'm around when it's on, I love watching it with her.  God Bless your Mom.

Nov 06, 2012 11:03 PM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Thanks for sharing your lovely family.  Bonita and Bella look like they were enjoying the ride.  I also can remember watching Lawerence Welk with my grandma many, many years ago.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Nov 06, 2012 11:15 PM
Cindy Westfall
Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR
ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Karen and Frank, What a great post about connecting. I too remember watching to Lawrence Welk show and at the time knew all the regulars. I love that your Mom and Gretchen enjoy this time together. Hmm..next up the Laugh In or the Sonny and Cher show!

Nov 06, 2012 11:27 PM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

I never really got into the Lawrence Welk Show, even with a cousin who was in the band.  I do stop and watch it now once in awhile. 

Nov 07, 2012 03:37 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Joni ~> We love sharing just like everyone else here in the Rain!

Susanna ~> We love our family time and certainly don't get enough of it!!

Nov 07, 2012 06:32 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Roger ~> Family is so much fun especially when there are the young ones to play with!!

Sue ~> Lawrence Welk is a classic never to be forgotten . Thank goodness for reruns!!

Cindy ~> Hmm, I'll have to check to see what other reruns they watch together ...

Tony ~> That is crazy, you had a cousin in the band and didn't get into it?? You must find the reruns and watch them now!!

Nov 07, 2012 06:36 AM
Stefanie Bernstein
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Saint Augustine, FL

What a great story.  We can learn and take away so much from our elders if we just spend some time with them.  Thanks for sharing.

 

Nov 07, 2012 07:00 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...
Stefanie~> we do learn from our elders and do appreciate all they have to offer!
Nov 07, 2012 09:27 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Ana a one ana two..yep I remember! Wonderful that you have such a caring family and thanks for sharing.

Margaret

Nov 08, 2012 01:02 PM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Margaret ~> My favorite was the polka music!!

Nov 08, 2012 09:41 PM
Kerrie La Guardia
ActiveRain, Community Manager - Kirkland, WA
Let it Rain!

Spending time with my Nanny and Pop-Pop are the times I cherish most.  I try to tell myself to remember everything, down to the color of yarn my Nanny knits as we sit talking.  I've never seen the Lawrence Welk show but I have definitely seen highlights of all the wonderful bands from the Ed Sullivan show.  

Gretchen is adorable by the way, a princess indeed!!

Nov 09, 2012 01:20 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Kerrie ~ Aww, and your Nanny knits too!!

Try to find a rerun of the show on a PBS channel .. It's the bees knees!!

Nov 09, 2012 01:26 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Such a cute story you guys. Despite having never seen the Lawrence Welk Show, my daughter, who is only 17, watches it from time to time, and she likes it! Go figure!

Nov 09, 2012 07:56 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...
Craig ~> Glad to hear someone in your family relates to the classics ... And not classic rock music ... Classic tv shows ...
Nov 09, 2012 08:30 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

There is nothing like the mixing of family generations! I always have fond memories of the times I shared with my GREAT Grandma who lived 101 years. She told me stories of coming from Italy to America on the Lucitania. 

Your great neice is lucky to share those memories with your mom, and I'm sure for your mom it give purpose and reason to live each day to her fullest.

BTW, just got power back after 12 days....still catching up on emails...but glad I got a chance to see this and comment.

Nov 09, 2012 09:37 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...
Ellen ~> fond family memories for you too! So happy to hear the power is back on for you and your area!
Nov 09, 2012 09:57 AM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Karen and Frank-That's a great story. Oldsters and kids do seem to bond over some interesting things. It's great that your Mom has family to help out too.

Jan 03, 2013 07:15 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...
Wayne ~ Family relationships have wonderful memories!
Jan 03, 2013 10:54 AM